Sofa bed hinge support



Feb. 10, 1948.

w. w. WILSON 2, 6

SOFA BED HINGE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 1 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. W/LL/FIM M W/Lso/v Feb. 10, 1948.

w. w. WILSON SOFA BED HINGE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 1 1944 3 s t 2 INVENTOR.

Feb. 10, 1948. w, w, w soN 2,435,936

SOFA BED HINGE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 1, 1944 3 h t 5 INVENTOR.

} W/LL/HMMW/Lsmv Patented Feb. 10, 1948 UNITED srAr PATENT orncs This invention relates to sofa bed hinges and supports of that-well known type inwhich brackets pivotally hinged together are secured respectively to the lower end of the back and the rear end of the seat and the hinge is carried by a pair of upwardly extending swinging arms which are pivotally supported by attachment at their lower ends to a base member.

In sofa beds in which such hinges are employed, the seat is hinged to the back by the hinge so that the seat and back may be relatively moved the one. with respect to the other, and locking means, well known in the art,-which forms no. part of the present invention, is inter posed throughwhich various relative positions of the seat and back may be accomplished, such means being well known in the art and a desirable form thereofbeing described in my pending application, for patent, Serial No. 531,031, filed April 14, 1944.--

In such structures the seat and back,- locked together as a rigid unit, is shifted by manipulation of the seat-from sofa position until the back reaches bedpositiomand subsequently'the seat by further manipulation is released from itslocked relation to theback and lowered to bed position. After use as a bed, the movements roughly are reversed, the seat and back restored to locked relation and shifted back as a rigid unit tothe-original sofa position.

In shifting the unit from sofa position toward bed position, and in restoring the unit to sofa position, the upper end of the back ordinarily swings rearwardly in an undesirable are which makes it necessary to shift the entire structure away from the wall, against'which it is usually placed, in order that change to a bed may be made and after the subsequent shift back from bed to sofa position the entire structure must again be moved back against the wall. During such shifts, the seat and back as a unit are out of balance and a not inconsiderable lift must be exerted on the seat to start the: movement and a similar force exerted to prevent the back slamming down on the supporting frame as the back approaches bed position, and efforts so far made to correct or improve any one "of these undesirable features have in general accentuated the others thereof.

The objects of the present invention are: H

To provide a sofa bed which includes an articulated seat and back' unit, means for supporting said unit for shift from seat. to bed positions and return, which maintains a substantially vering the seat, back and supporting base, with the tical path of travel of the upper end of said back during such shifts;

To provide shiftable support means for said unit which minimize rise and fall in the path of shift of the movable centers in moving from seat to bed position and vice versa;

To provide a shiftable support means for a sofa bed unit in which final seating movement of the back into bed position is accomplished by reversal of movement and lift of the unit, tend ing to check the movement;

, To provide a simple and emcient and economical bracket for accomplishing the hinge supports;

To provide shiftable sofa bed supporting means in which the movement of the unit toward sofa position is limited by contacting engagement of the supporting arms and astable position of the back effected in such position, and in which the opposite movement of the unit parts toward bed positioning is likewise terminated by contact of the arms and a stable support effected for the then forward edge of the back and rear edge of the seat in bed positions. j

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished, and the manner of their accomplishment, will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which? Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a sofa bed, includback and seat positioned as they are when in use as a sofa, the view also showing, in dotted, lines, an intermediate position of shift from sofa toward bed position which indicates that the path of travel of the upper edge of the back is substantially along a vertical line.

. Fig. 2 shows the same parts with the back approaching bed position, and in dotted lines, completion of the movement of the back tobed position, this view further showing that the path of travel of the upper edge of the back is substantially along'the vertical line. This figure -also shows an alternate base construction.

Fig. 3 shows both the back and seat in .bed position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line IV--IV of Fi 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base bracket which pivotally supports the lower ends ofthe support arms. 7 l

Fig. 6 is a front; and

Fig. 7 an end elevation of the bracket: and

Fig. 8 an outline plan of the blank as stamped out for the bracket. V j.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

II is a hinge bracket having a flange l3 through which it is secured to the member l5 of the back. I! is a similar bracket secured to the member I9 of the seat. The two brackets, hereinafter designated as back and seat brackets, are hingedly connected by a pivot pin 2|, and accomplish the articulating of: 'hi'n ingtogether of the back and'seat;

23 is a base and 25 a base bracket secured thereto, this bracket forming the lower support for a pair of support arms 21 and 29. :EF-heL-Ear-m 21 is pivotally secured at its upper end to the hinge pin 2| and similarly pivotally-securedz at its lower end to the bracket t25 by ahin pin 3!. The arm 29 is pivotally secured at'its upper end through a pin 33 to the back bracket llgvand at its lower end through a Spin 35 to the base bracket -2 5; the. construction: asx described-being .mora or less typical.

:- xeentrallyr -:fore-. and aft theupperaedge of the thattthe centrahportion willnbe-lowerflthan at the front and back, an-dsthefiseathinsofauposition may be-supported by the front .edge -or port-ion of: the. .-base with; the rbacka edge; of..-the. -.seatat a lower n-lev'elfto providerdesired iseathslope lthe -fioriward and-back edges .or portions. of th base being at proper level-"ta support. bothsthel seat and-back. when.impede-position. Fig ZJthis is accomplished by; .upwar L. extensionsji'l,1 39..at the front and back ends of the base to effiecta .supporhat such points fornthe seahand .back members I 9; and-J 5 .-w l:1en-..inv bed-position, and at the sametime allowLthe-seat whenin sofa-posi- .tion,. as shown-in Eigs.,1,..to -be, supported. at its forward =e'dgeeands slopefl-downward \toward..'.the back insdesirable manner.

l. Thehbracket .2 5. comprises= a-plate -"likeportion, designated ....thrughout .the ..drawings by lithe .bracket. identifying number 15, wh-ichsseats against the sideiaceof-the base I23.and an. in- .wardly .turned.-flange. portion. 25A .which. rests on .and. ,is. supported by ltheupper edge cflthe 'basewin'the. centrally depressed.portion thereof, the. plate portion Jofithe'. flange-member 25 being secured .tof the .base-.as" Joy screws'ifl; for .which suitablrh'oles'. 25B areshownin Eigsl 5, 6 and 8. The (plate portion. of the. membe'f'liis also. provided witha hole 25C-.f.or'jthe .'pivot. piri 3l;/this hole'fllying' belowflthe level .of'the depressed pormade possible by the high position of the pin 35 also makes it possible to allow the pin 2| to over-travel to the position 2|A (Fig. 2) and then be compelled to move backward and upward to the position 2 l B as the pin 33 completes its downward movement from the position 33A to the position 333 and the back moves into the bed position I5A.

: The :arm 29- preferablyi'extends vertically up- 10 ward fronithe pin 35 -a-ndis then -bent'mearward q 53mg the backinupright position.

. 31.is a tension spring attached as by pins 39 and-4|tothe'arm 21 and base 23 respectively,

tion of the.:base fwhenl'th bracket25.,is in place At thesoppd'siteend oftheflbracket post a portion 251) extends upwardand is, prov'z'dedwith. ahole 25E for'the piv'ot, pin'i35, the postv portion! bein off-set outwardly to. overlithe arm" 29.

"The postf25 ,is of. such height 'th'at. the pin 35 will be,po'sition'ed. wen. above the .centr'aladepressed portionbf the basein 'close proximity to theil'evel oflthe bottom 'of the back member. in its bdposition I5A,'..and'ithe, support arms of suchlengthend relative positioningthat'the rear .end of theseatmember 1,9; in seat position will lie'weH below'the 'pin'level. The pins arespaced .apart...along the bracket,.and the bracket positioned" to establish the pin"35 substantial1yi.-the same distance forwardly of the pin 33 inseating position of: the 'unitthatthepin' 3 l is rearwardly from-the position'iiA "ofthe pixi2l in its'greate'st position of forward shift, Fig. 2,.balancinge as nearly as possiblethetravel pathsvoffth two pins during. shift, and reducing as fa1 .as possiblethe rise in such paths" during travelfifrom seating toward bed position. The shortening "ofthe arn'i29 eand rasrshown in Fig. 1, being extended when the sofa bed is in sofa position to aid in making the .shift to bed position. .TheJspring 31 is. of. such length' thatut closes and itsfpull on "the and 21 ceases as'that arm reaches aveiticar position-and the need for" 'springtension disappears.

"*The"pin"3 9*maytextendie'ntireiy throueltthe arm 2 band therebeyondfintowooperative "overlying'relation 'with the bracket! 5 to stop the rearward swing of-thearm' and *rearwarcr'movement of the back, and inslibhcasthe"arnr29flfeed not'be'bent. a

In sofaposition the-backis'sfubstantiailrlocked against either forward,or-backwardnnovement Shift" to bed posit-ion'is accomplished by a forward andupward p'ull'on'the seat, -tvhich-is aided as =the 'pir-1s 2 l and -33-'-move-*upwarct' aboutthe ce'nters' 5 l and 35g'bythe spring 31. *Duringthis movement the top "edgeof "the-"back"! 5 movessubstant-ially'str'aight downward:the"deviation"being 'so"s light that it -'isnot readilydetected; "audit" is .not necessary to move the sbfa-bed away' from the wall to permit shifting' 'eit-her "1'01" from bed position.

'Also' the Y shift "of the support centers, the' pins 2 I and 33; are along fiat 'horizontally disposed arcs which reduce the actu'al 'weight lift to" a minimum. As "shift'progresses the back moves downward from upright to horizontal position and the seat oppositely, a"- mi'nimum' 'of' effort being rrecessaryto 1 make the shiftand the back movtingi fairly close' to' bed' -position'-*before it "is" necessary to hold the -seat'. ba'ck,-to"chckthe back movement and prevent slamming.

izIn (these movements; "the seat 7 and 'back move as: a; unit until the :back -reaches bed position, andithe'; upper-r end of the arm' 9-*-s'vvings against the. arm: 21; as shown: in dash- 'lines'in' Fig. 2; and Fig; 3; providing a' solid support fort'he then forward edge fofthe;.back and the*rear endofthe seat. :Sihe seat is unla'tched in the usu'al manner pf :suchwbeds'and lowered abo'ut the pii'1 2i with its reagredges' solidly supported: until its forwardend .restson :and is supported on the base.

3 Subsequently the seat is raised 'andrelat'ched tozthetback in: well known-manner; and*se'at and backme arestnredato se'atingrelationg the supportinguarm; as ;beforle; :1argely; bal'ancingi the movementszanwthefspringreasing 'the shock of seating aszmmtementeand :final' positioning accomplished :by: contact: :of :the 5 arms" 2 1' and? :2 9. 1 Unlatching and latching means are shown anddescribed in my aforesaid application-p Serial 'zNoof3 13031.

-. I claim:

i 1.. In' ausofabed; including a'sbase a back and aseat; .means. at opposite ends thereof for supporting. said. back -and ..seat ion; shift from, sofa to bed positions and vice versa, each said support means including hinge members coupled by a hinge pin and secured to the bottom and rear edges respectively of said back and seat, a first arm pivotally coupled at its lower end to said base, and at its upper end to said hinge pin, a second arm pivotally coupled at its lower end to said base rearwardly of said first arm, and at its upper end to said back hinge member rearwardly of and above said hinge pin in sofa position of said back, said second arm being bent to extend upwardly from its lower pivot to engagement with said first arm and from such engagement to its upper pivot when said back is in upright position, effecting with said first arm a stop against rearward movement of, and a brace for said back, and being pivoted to swing forwardly about said lower pivot when said back is moved from sofa to bed position, and being of a length to contact said first arm when said bed position is achieved, said first arm being of length to support the hinge edge of said back level with the opposite edge thereof when so contacted by said second arm.

2. In a sofa bed, including a base, a back and a seat; means at opposite ends of said bed for supporting said back and seat for shift from seat to bed positions and vice versa, each said support means including hinge members coupled by a hinge pin and secured to the bottom and rear edges respectively of said back and seat, a bracket carried by said base, a first arm pivotally coupled at its lower end to said bracket, and at its upper end to said hinge pin, a second arm pivotally coupled at its lower end to said bracket rearwardly .of and above said first arm pivot, and at its upper end to said back hinge member rearwardly of and above said hinge pin in sofa position of said back, said second arm in such position of said back extending upwardly from its lower pivot to engagement with said first arm and being rearwardly bent to extend from said engagement to its upper pivot, effecting with said first arm a stop against rearward movement of, and a brace for said back, and being pivoted to swing forwardly about said lower pivot when said back is moved from sofa to bed position and being of a length to contact said first arm when said bed position is achieved, said first arm being of length to support the hinge edge of said back level with the opposite edge thereof when so contacted by said second arm.

3. In a soft bed, including a base, depressed intermediate its ends, to allow downward inclination of said seat toward the back, a back and a seat; means at opposite ends of said sofa bed for supporting said back and seat for shift from sofa to bed positions and vice versa, each said support means including hinge members coupled by a hinge pin and secured to the bottom and rear edges respectively of said back and seat, a bracket carried by the depressed portion of said base and having at its rear end a post portion extending substantially to the level of the top of said base, a first arm pivotally coupled at its lower end to said bracket, forwardly of said post, and at its upper end to said hinge pin, a second arm pivotally coupled at its lower end to said bracket post above the rear edge of said seat in sofa position, and adjacent the bottom of said back in bed position, and at its upper end to said back hinge member rearwardly of and above said hinge pin in sofa position of said back, said second arm in such position of said back extending upwardly from its lower pivot to engagement with said first arm and being rearwardly bent to extend from such engagement to its upper pivot, effecting with said first arm a stop against rearward movement of, and a brace for said back, and being pivoted to swing forwardly about said lower pivot when said back is moved from sofa to bed position and being of a length to contact said first arm when said bed position is achieved, said first arm being of length to support the hinge edge of said back level with the opposite edge thereof when so contacted by said second arm.

WILLIAM W. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 2,050,658 Holt Aug. 11, 1936 2,330,059 Krakauer et al Sept. 21, 1943 1,044,280 Sontheimer Nov. 12. 1912 828,157 Watkins Aug. '7, 1906 2,107,993 Fox Feb. 8, 1938 2,028,426 Wunderlich Jan. 21, 1936 

